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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. N. OONNET.

CRANE.

' No. 563,259. Patented July 7, 1896,

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m 91m. 93m: x- Cmat AW Model 2 Shets-Sheet 2. P. N. GON'NET.

CRANE.

No. 563,259. Patented July 7, 1896.

WITNCSSEIEY INVENTEIR. /u-MJL W UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

FREDERICK N. OONNET, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CRANE.

-6PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 563,259, dated July'7, 1896. Application filed January 17, 1896. Serial No. 575,859: (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, FREDERICK N. CoNNEr, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Providence and State of Rhode Island,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cranes, of which thefollowing, with the accompanying drawings, hereby made a part hereof, isa description.

My invention relates to that class of cranes in which thehoisting-chains are wound upon two drums and both are necessarilyrotated in both hoisting and trolleying; and it consists of a craneoperated by two such drums, two motive powers, and a set of gearing of aform well known in mechanics and which is called by various names,according as it is used for one purpose or another, and in combinationsof several of these parts. In a previous ap plication for a patent filedby me on September 7, 1894, and being Serial No. 522,345, I havedescribed combinations of essentially the same elements andhave thereincalled the set of gearing equational gearing. In this application Iprefer to call it compensating gearing, as more nearly describing itsfunction in these combinations.

Referring to the drawings, Figure lis a view of a traveling craneembodying my invention Fig. 2, a view at right angles to Fig. 1 and online 2 2 of that figure, looking from the middle of the crane, and thefigure being partly in section. Figs. 3, 4:, and 5 represent modifiedarrangements of the principal elements of the invention.

Referring to either Fig. l or Fig. 3, it will be seen that the gearing,herein called compensating gearing, consists of three main features, allconcentrically mounted, namely, the two large outer bevel-gears A and Aand the intermediate framework 0, consisting of arms with the beveledpinions B and B mounted loosely upon them and meshing with the maingears. A consideration of this gearing will show that each of thesethree elements may be connected to other mechanical devices in variousways to obtain various results. In my previous application abovereferred to I have shown the two main gears of such a gearing connectedwith two sources of motivepower, and the intermediate framework with itspinions connected to a drum of the crane to drive it. In thisapplication I reverse the points of connection as respects drums andmotive power, connecting the drums to the main gears of the gearing andthe motive power used for hoisting to the intermediate framework, andthen add a second and independent motive power to accomplish thetrolleying. This latter arrangement will be readily understood from thefol- 6o lowing description:

In Figs. 1 and 3, D and D represent the two hoisting-drums, preferably,though not necessarily, located at one end of the bridge where used in atraveling crane, upon which the 6 hoisting-chains E and E are wound, oneupon each drum, but in such a manner that they will be both wound orunwound by rotating the main gears of the compensating gearing in thesame direction. One of these chains, as E, it being immaterial which,passes over suitable sheaves directly to the truck or trolley F, andpassing over the sheave f in the truck is fastened to the hoisting-hookH. The other chain, as E, passes first to the other 7 5 end of thebridge and thence back over the truck-sheavef, and is also attached tothe hoisting-hook.

As shown in Fig. 1, the two drums D and D are mounted loosely upon theshaft S and each is attached to one of the main gears of thecompensating gearing, and the intermediate framework 0, carrying thepinions, is keyed to the same shaft S. Power is then applied to thisshaft, preferably by an electric motor M, by means of the worm and gearG. This worm should be strongly mounted to resistthe rotation of thedrums when not driven by the motor under the strain imparted by the loadon the crane. Other appliances may be substituted for the worm toaccomplish the same purpose, as an electric brake or brakes, which shallbe automatically applied whenever the current to the motor is cut off,applied either to the intermediate framework or 9 5 elsewhere, and othermotive power may be substituted for the electric motor; but I prefer thearrangement of the motor and worm here described. A second motor M orother motive power is then arranged to move the truck back and forth onthe bridge, that is, give the trolleying action required in a practicalcrane. This second motor may be indifferently placed in variouspositions and arranged in a number of ways to accomplish this result. InFig. 1 Ihave shown it located at one end of the bridge driving asuitable chain wheel or drum, which in turn is connected by the endlesschain K, running over it, to the truck or trolley F, one end of thechain first running around the sheave L at the opposite end of thebridge. It is evident, however, that this motor or motive power may alsobe mounted upon the trolley or truck itself, and it could as welloperate a screw running along the bridge and working in a nut fixed uponthe trolley, or, if mounted upon the trolley, operate the nut upon afixed screw, and thus effect the same result. Still another position andconnection for this motor will be hereinafter mentioned. The betterplace for this motor, however, is, as shown, at one end of the bridge,although it is entirely immaterial at which end it is placed, except asinfluenced by the exact arrangement and proportions of the parts, sincethere is no difficulty in such cases in conducting the electric wirescontrolling it to any point which may be most convenient for theoperator to control in connection with the other or hoisting motor.

It is to be understood that the motors are controlled in speed anddirection of rotation by suitable resistance-coils and reversingmechanism, the forms of which are well known to electricians, and bymeans of levers, asN, Fig. l, or other appropriate means convenientlyplaced to permit the operator to see the direction taken by the load.

The operation of this mechanism is as follows: The strain due to theload as transmitted by the chains comes equally upon both drums. If thenthe chains are properly placed upon the drums, the tendency of each willbe to rotate the main gears of the compensating gearing in the samedirection and therefore to rotate the entire framework and pinions.

between them upon its shaft; but this tendency on the part of theintermediate framework and pinions to rotate is prevented by the worm G,or other means employed for this purpose when the motor is at rest. Whenthe motor M is run in the proper direction either for hoisting orlowering, the mot-ion is transmitted equally to both drums, the strainof the load being equally balanced on both. In any of these cases thepinions B and B will not rotate. ley, and the motor M is operated to runthe truck or trolley upon the bridge, the action will cause one or theother of the hoistingchains E or E to be pulled from its drum andconsequently will cause that drum to rotate. Whichever drum, however,thus rotates will by means of the main gears of the compensating gearingand the pinions between them cause the other drum to rotate in theopposite direction at the same speed, and thus cause the chain on thatdrum to be pulled in to an equal extent that the other is unwound, theframework in this case remaining \Vhen, however, it is desired totrolstationary and the pinions only rotating on their axes. The resultupon the load will be to trolley it in one or the other directionwithout giving any vertical movement to it. It is not of coursenecessary, however, that either the hoisting or trolleying take place atdifferent times,-but both may be done at the same instant and at anyvarying speeds desired, so that the load may be thus made to take anydirection desired in the perpendicular plane of the bridge.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 1 is perhaps the simplest one; but ittakes considerable room lengthwise of the bridge, which may frequentlybe objectionable. A more concentrated arrangement is shown in Figs. 3,4, and 5,where the same letters represent the same parts so far as usedexcept that the second or trolleying motor is represented by M. Hereeach drum and the compensating gearing are mounted on separate shafts.Each drum is connected by gears (shown as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) to one ofthe main gearsof the compensating gearing, these latterbein g loose upontheir shaft, and the Worm driven by the hoisting-motor and the frameworkbeing keyed to it.

As here shown the chains are wound on the two drums in oppositedirections instead of the same direction, as shown in Fig. 1. They arethus shown in order to bring them as nearly in the center of the bridgeas possible; but with such winding it is necessary to insert anadditional gear, as 2, between one of the drums and its main gear of thecompensating gearing in order to reverse the rotary direction of thestrain which will be transmitted to the compensating gearing. Variousother arrangements may also probably be made to suit special conditions;but in the arrangement of this application the two drums must always beconnected to the main gears of the compensating gearing either by beingdirectly fastened to them or by means of shafts, gearings, or otherequivalent means inserted between them, and the hoisting-motor must beconnected in some similar way to the intermediate element or framework.

From the foregoing description of the operation of the combination itwill be seen that the motive power effecting the trolleying might beapplied directly to one of the drums to rotate it as desired, sincewhatever motion is thus given to one will be transmitted in the reversedirection to the other; but such motive power and its connections mustbe so constructed as to permit perfect freedom of rotation of the drumwhen hoisting or lowering, and if it is constructed, as it should be,with permanent connections always in operative position, the meanstransmitting or causing this rotation when trolleying must itself rotatewhen the hoisting-motor is alone used. Such an arrangement is shown inFigs. 3 and 4, where M" represents the motor connected to one drum bythe chain 0 running over sprocket-wheels. For the reason that this motormust be free to rotate when hoisting and the additional one that thespeed of electric motors as at the present time constructed mustordinarily be much reduced in transmission, and thus cause considerableinertia to be overcome upon one drum which is not upon the other, andconsequently make the resistance of the two unequal, I prefer to connectthe motor, as shown in the main drawings, directly to the truck ortrolley.

It is advantageous generally to place the drums lengthwise of the bridgein trolleyingcranes and then feed the chains upon the drums. Themechanism for accomplishing this is fully described and claimed in mypending application referred to in the early part of this specification,and although my invention is here described as applied to travelingcranes, it will be well understood upon consideration of my otherapplication that the arrangement herein described may also beadvantageously applied to jib-cranes. WVheels constructed to engage thechains running over them may of course take the place of drums, andropes the place of chains. It is therefore to be understood that theseare included in the claims. The term motive power is meant to includeshafts transmit ting power as well as electric motors or otherindependent sources of power.

I claim as my invention 1. Ahoisting and trolleying crane operated bythe combination of a set of compensating gearing substantially asdescribed,two drums each connected with one of the main gears of thecompensating gearing to be driven by it, a motive power connected to theintermediate framework of the compensating gearing, and means forpreventing the rotation of the drums under the strain of the load whennot being operated by the motive power already mentioned, and by asecond motive power arranged to effect the trolleying, substantially asdescribed.

2. A hoisting and trolleying crane operated by the combination of a setof compensating gearing substantially as described, two drums eachconnected with one of the main gears of the compensating gearing to bedriven by it, a motive power, and a worm and gear connecting the motivepower with the intermediate framework of the compensating gearing, andby a second motive power arranged to effect the trolleying,substantially as described.

3. A hoisting and trolleying crane operated by the combination of a setof compensating gearing substantially as described, two drums eachconnected with one of the main gears of the compensating gearing to bedriven by it, a motive power, and a worm and gear connecting the motivepower with the intermediate framework of the compensating gearing, andby a second motive power connected to the truck or trolley by suitablemeans for moving it back and forth, substantially as described.

4. In a crane the combination of a set of compensating gearingsubstantially as described, two drums each connected with one of themain gears of the compensating gearing to be driven by it, a motivepower connected with the intermediate framework of the compensatinggearing, and means for pre Venting the rotation of the drums under thestrain of the load upon them when not being operated by said motivepower, and of a truck or trolley carrying sheaves, chains running overthe trolley-sheaves and connecting each drum with the hoisting-hook inthe manner described, said chains being placed upon the drums in suchmanner as to tend to turn the main gears of the compensating gearing inthe same direction, and a second motive power arranged to effect thetrolleyin g, substantially as described.

5. In a crane the combination of a set of compensating gearingsubstantially as described, two drums each connected with one of themain gears of the compensating gearing to be driven by it, a motivepower, and a worm and gear connecting the motive power with theintermediate framework of the compensating gearing, and of a truck ortrolley carrying sheaves, chains running over the trolley-sheaves andconnecting each drum with the hoisting-hook in the manner described,said chains being placed upon the drums in such manner as to tend toturn the main gears of the compensating gearing in the sam e direction,and a second motive power arranged to effect the trolleyin g,substantially as described.

6. In a crane the combination of a set of compensating gearingsubstantially as described, two drums each connected with one of themain gears of the compensating gearing to be driven by it, a motivepower, and a worm and gear connecting the motive power with theintermediate framework of the compensating gearing, and of a truck ortrolley carrying sheaves, chains running over the trolley-sheaves andconnecting each drum with the hoisting-hook in the manner described,said chains being placed upon the drums in such manner as to tend toturn the main gears of the compensating gearing in the same direction,and a second motive power connected to the trolley by suitable means tomove it back and forth, substantially as described.

FREDK. N. CONNET. Vitnesses:

JOHN G. ALDRICH, H. J. BURROUGH.

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